Careers Event – Yr 9 Alternative Work Experience Day

On Friday 12th June, our Year 9 students took part in an engaging and inspiring Alternative Work Experience Day, kindly supported by Morgan Sindall and Interclass.

The day began with an interactive ‘Guess the Job’ activity, where volunteers spoke about their roles without revealing their job titles. This proved to be a challenging but enjoyable task, as students were given three options which challenged stereotypes. The level of engagement was excellent, with students quickly developing their questioning skills. Our volunteers kept everyone on their toes by adding deliberately ambiguous clues, making the activity both challenging and rewarding.

Students were then introduced to the main project of the day by Andy Clayton. Morgan Sindall recently developed a new waste recycling centre in Aldridge, which includes a re-use shop. This real-life project formed the basis of the day’s challenge: ‘Constructing West Midlands Goes Green’.

Working in teams of four, students took on job roles including Financial Manager, Design Manager, Marketing Manager and Project Manager. Their task was to design a logo for the new re-use shop and create at least one product idea that could be sold there. Before beginning the project, students received valuable insights into key employability skills from the volunteers, helping them understand expectations within the workplace.

Teams then collaborated to develop their ideas, demonstrating creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Once their concepts were finalised, volunteers provided guidance on presentation skills, preparing students to confidently share their work.

Each group presented their project to their class, followed by a question-and-answer session. Students responded thoughtfully to challenging questions, showing confidence and a clear understanding of their ideas. The winning team from each class progressed to a final presentation in the hall, where they presented in front of the entire year group. This required significant confidence, and all students involved rose to the challenge, delivering impressive presentations.

We are extremely proud of the effort, enthusiasm and professionalism shown by the students throughout the day, and we would like to extend our thanks to Morgan Sindall, Interclass and all volunteers for their continued support in providing such a valuable experience.